Faced Vs Unfaced Insulation In Attic

You should only use faced insulation as the first layer of insulation.

Faced vs unfaced insulation in attic. The same is true for an attic floor. Unfaced insulation can greatly reduce the risk of mold mildew or moisture damage in your house. When adding more insulation to an attic that already has insulation use unfaced insulation. Unfaced insulation on the other hand is a type of fiberglass batt insulation which is normally used over existing insulation.

You can buy them unfaced or simply remove the paper or foil backing. Place a new layer of unfaced batts perpendicular to the old layer to cover any gaps in the lower layer. Facing is a thin layer of paper or plastic attached to one side of batting insulation which is sold in a roll. The insulation can also be used to fill cracks around doors and windows but you ll need to peel off the facing.

If the attic doesn t have any existing insulation use faced insulation with the paper facing toward the heated living space. Unfaced means the insulation lacks a vapor retarder paper or plastic facing. Faced insulation has flanges on the outside of the batt that need to be stapled to the wall studs and joists. The upside is you save money by not having to pay to add your own vapor barrier.

The kraft paper on one side of faced insulation keeps moisture from spreading throughout the walls or ceiling. Always use unfaced batts both when laying product for the first time and to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between new and old layers of insulation. Faced insulation is a little but not a lot more expensive than unfaced simply because of the extra material it includes. To make things safe cover your unfaced insulation with drywall to prevent the risk of a fire.

If you re putting it in an exterior wall the facing is on the interior side of the home where drywall will be laid. Climate also dictates how the vapor barrier should be positioned. The facing should aim down toward the living space. For many contractors the decision to use one kind of insulation over the other depends solely on preference rather than a by the book decision making process.

The kraft paper itself is highly flammable. It is stapled to studs and joists unlike unfaced batts. Whether you choose faced or unfaced insulation for the attic depends on the. Kraft faced insulation includes a paper vapor retarder which helps prevent mold and mildew.